Japanese store worker, 22, dies after being told by employer to reenter earthquake-hit building to return sales proceeds

Two Japanese store workers were killed in an explosion at a mall in Kumamoto, Japan, after being ordered to return to the building post-earthquake.

One of them had been instructed by the company's director to put their sales proceeds into the company's safe, Japanese media reported.

A probe is being conducted into the incident.

Incident

According to media reports, the two female employees from Habita, a general merchandise store on the second floor of Aeon Mall, Kumamoto Prefecture, had initially escaped the building.

They were among the 3,000 customers and 1,500 employees who evacuated the building after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the prefecture on Jul. 28, reported Chosun Daily.

However, one of the women, 22-year-old Otake Kurumi, received instructions from the company to re-enter the building to put the day's sales proceeds into the safe.

She related this to her aunt and cousin, who were also at the scene.

Five minutes after Otake and her co-worker reentered the building, the explosion occurred, killing them both.

Eight others also died and five people sustained minor injuries.

Company apologised

Habita executives attended Otake's wake, where they delivered a document summarising the sequence of events to Otake's family. 

They also bowed in apology.

Otake's mother was seen in tears, saying, "My daughter is not coming back".

A sales manager reflected on the incident, saying, "Looking back, the sales proceeds were not worth a human life".

The company's director was also quoted saying: "This is a matter of profound sorrow, and I offer my deepest apologies to the bereaved family."